Aug 19, 2008

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: EOC Public Information, 239-533-3710 or 239-533-3730 

Rains from Tropical Storm Fay have caused some road flooding in Lee County.  All drivers should exercise caution on wet roads.  Do not drive through water if you can not see the road surface through the water.  Turn around, don't drown. 

Careful driving will not only improve your safety, but will help the road surface stay in better safer condition.  Road beds in Southwest Florida can easily be damaged by the combination of standing water and harsh driving.  This problem is especially prevalent on unpaved, dirt and gravel surface roads. 

If you must drive on unimproved roads, limit the number of trips and slow your speed as much as practical to limit damage to the road surface.   Avoid high speed turns and spinning tires, as these maneuvers cause substantial damage to the road surface. 

Avoid driving on private roads, especially those surfaced with dirt or gravel, unless you have the owner's specific permission and a need to be there.  Then, drive carefully. 

Damage to unimproved roads is costly to repair and may leave roads impassable.  Standing water and/or additional flooding can even be impossible to repair while the road is wet.

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